VS.
SMITH'S REP:"I think Tim Duncan will go down as one of the top 5 power forwards to ever play the game. Twenty years from now, Duncan will be in the Hall of Fame, and odds are, Josh Smith will be just another player that played in the NBA. However, as of right now, in 2011, I’m taking Josh Smith hands down. Duncan, at 35 years old, is clearly in the twilight of his career and has been for years. He had career lows in points, rebounds, and minutes per game in 2010-2011. Josh Smith is a grown man. He has athletic ability that Duncan never had and this guy is just entering the prime of his career. Duncan is an all-time great, but right now, I’m taking Smith."
Who would you rather have this season: Josh Smith or Tim Duncan?
SMITH'S REP:
DUNCAN'S REP:
"You’re right, Tim Duncan is one of the best power forwards of all time because he’s an all time great champion and if I’m building a championship team for one more run, you have to choose him over Josh Smith. Compared to Smith, a person who hasn’t actually won anything before, I will always choose the Big Fundamental. But maybe Duncan’s running out of gas, so I looked into some defensive stats which is what Smith’s known for. Shockingly, with extraordinary leaping ability, Smith was only 18th in rebounding compared to Duncan’s 12th and even worse, Josh Smith - the incredible shot blocker - is 7 spots behind Tim Duncan in BPG rankings (averages at 1.56 vs 1.92 BPG). Smith is an incredibly young talent that has no professional focus, and frankly, this is the 7th season where I’m still describing him this way."
SMITH'S REP:
DUNCAN'S REP:
Who won this debate? Go to the right sidebar to cast your vote!
SMITH'S REP:
"Well considering that this debate is about who you would take this season, your logic doesn’t make any sense. Who said anything about putting together a team to make one more championship run? Duncan’s accolades have been well documented already and no, Josh Smith hasn’t won anything, but once again it’s not about that. It’s about who the best player is right now and that’s Josh Smith."
DUNCAN'S REP:
"Uhhhh what? If you’re not trying to put together a championship team next season in this debate, then what are we doing? I haven’t seen legitimate evidence other than blanketed statements that 'Josh Smith is better' from your side of the debate. Tim Duncan was the leader of a 61-win regular season team, owned a better 2010-11 PER, RBG average, BPG average, and committed far fewer turnovers per game... the picture is pretty darn clear."
Who won this debate? Go to the right sidebar to cast your vote!
I've always found the "Tim Duncan is a power forward" mindset to be quite amusing. The only reason people think of this way is because he played with The Admiral when he first came into the league and was forced to be the power forward until 2003. But since then, he is clearly a center, yet for some reason people don't like to change that perception. No one had any problem calling Paul Pierce a small forward instead of shooting guard when Ray Allen arrived. Or calling Amare Stoudemire a power forward instead of a center when he went from the Suns to the Knicks. Yet still people think of Duncan as a power forward. Why do you think this is?
ReplyDeletePersonal Theory: Because you can legitimately argue he's the greatest power forward of all time, but can't do so if you call him a center.
Even after David Robinson retired, Duncan spent a few seasons at the 4, playing alongside Rasho Nesterovic. I think because these were probably Duncan's best years, and the Spurs won a title during that run, people still think of him as a power forward. These past 4-5 season, though, Duncan has definitely been the Spurs' center.
ReplyDeleteEither way, he's one of the all time great "bigs"
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Canaan and Mary. Yes, he's been playing center the past few seasons, but he can do something most centers can't do and that is knock down jumpshots from about 18 feet (which is something most POWER FORWARDS can do). That's part of the reason why I still consider him a PF.
ReplyDeleteTim Duncan is definitely one of the all-time great big men, and I doubt the same will ever be said about Josh Smith. However, for 2011 or 2012 pending the outcome of the lockout, I'll take Josh Smith.
ReplyDelete